Di Stefano tips Madrid for El Clasico clash

The 86-year-old believes los Blancos have it within themselves to upset Barcelona on Tuesday and also declined to comment on Cristiano Ronaldo’s personal duel with Lionel Messi

Real Madrid legend Alfredo di Stefano has tipped his former club to prevail in the upcoming Copa del Rey semi-final second leg meeting with Barcelona.

The Spanish giants are set to renew hostilities and battle for a place in the final on Tuesday and, with the tie delicately poised at 1-1 on aggregate, Di Stefano believes a Madrid victory is certainly a possibility.

Speaking to Europa Press, the Argentine said: “It will be a very difficult game, but I hope Real Madrid go all the way.

“I hesitate to give any predictions because in football, anything can happen. It comes down to desire. It will be difficult to beat them, but I believe it is very possible.”

The 86-year-old also refused to be drawn on the recurring subplot of El Clasico with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

“If Cristiano will be better than Messi on the night? That’s going to be something else,” he added. “But as always, everything will be decided on the field.”

Giggs eyeing starting berth against Real Madrid after recent fine form

The veteran midfielder scored in a fine performance against QPR on Saturday, and hopes that standout display will force him into contention for the return leg next week

Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs believes his recent goalscoring displays have given Sir Alex Ferguson a tough decision to make ahead of the Champions League clash against Real Madrid.

The 39-year-old made his 999th appearance in a United shirt away to QPR on Saturday, and capped a fine individual performance with his second league goal of the campaign.

Giggs came on for the final 26 minutes of the first-leg 1-1 draw at Bernabeu two weeks ago, but has hinted at his desire to start the all-important return tie next Tuesday.

“It is a headache for the manager but a good one,” Giggs told reporters. “We are not looking too far ahead and we are not getting too excited.”

On the game as a whole, Giggs believes squad rotation ahead of, and for, the tie is crucial to keep the team’s momentum intact.

He continued: “We are in good form and the manager has a big squad to choose from, which allows him to chop and change and that is all you can ask for at this stage.”

It's impossible to separate Barcelona & Madrid, says Del Bosque

The 62-year-old believes that either side could triumph during Tuesday’s Clasico at Camp Nou, and is refusing to class 2012-13 as a failure for Spanish football

Vicente del Bosque has claimed it is impossible to separate Barcelona and Real Madrid in the build-up to Tuesday’s Copa del Rey Clasico.

The two teams recorded a few in the first leg of their quarter-final in January, and will go head to head for a place in the last four at Camp Nou.

“It’s a great advert for Spanish football. It’s impossible to call,” the Spain coach was quoted as saying by Sport.

Both sides recorded poor first-leg results in the last 16 of the Champions League, but Del Bosque is refusing to class this season as a failure for Spanish football until the campaign’s end.

“Spanish football has been the best in recent years. We will have to wait until the second half of the season ends before reviewing it.”

Barcelona and Real Madrid kick off at 21:00CET on Tuesday, and also clash in La Liga on Saturday.

Dani Alves: I wouldn't sign anyone from Madrid

The Barcelona full-back believes the Blaugrana squad is good enough as it is without having to poach any of their rivals’ players, and is looking forward to Tuesday’s Clasico

Daniel Alves believes Barcelona do not need to sign anyone from arch-rivals Real Madrid.

Blaugrana president Sandro Rosell hinted recently that there was one Blancos player he would like to bring to Camp Nou, but the former Sevilla man feels his side have a strong enough squad.

“I wouldn’t bring anybody [from Madrid]. We are well served in all positions. If they didn’t play for Madrid, perhaps, but as they are there, then it’s better not to,” the 29-year-old told Mundo Deportivo.

The two rivals clash on Tuesday, with Barca holding a 1-1 draw, and an away goal, from the first leg, but the 29-year-old has dismissed suggestions that his side will take a defensive approach.

“We don’t know how to play for 0-0. We play to win, not to defend a result. We will go to attack from the first minute,,” he added.

“It will be a tough game. They are all classics and we will enjoy a grand finale. It just depends on us.

PSG are Ronaldo's most likely destination, says Canizares

The former Valencia and Real Madrid goalkeeper believes that the 28-year-old is tired of playing second fiddle to Lionel Messi, but will probably elect to say at the Bernabeu

Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Santiago Canizares believes that Paris Saint-Germain would be Cristiano Ronaldo’s most likely destination should he decide to leave the club.

The Portuguese admitted that he is unhappy at the Bernabeu in September, prompting a wave of speculation in linking him with an exit, and the former Spain international thinks France could be a possible destination.

“Cristiano is a little tired of losing against Barcelona,” he told Le10Sport.

“He is suffering a lot. He has won the league only once since he arrived. It is very hard to lose against Barca all the time. Around the world, we talk about Messi and then Ronaldo. He wants to be better than Messi but he cannot.

“If he leaves Madrid, it may be a possibility for him to change country and play in a league he does not know. He has already played and won titles in England, and I do not think he will go back to go to Manchester City or Chelsea.

“In Italy there is a restriction on wages so he won’t go there. In Germany, there is Bayern, but they are not a club who bet heavily on stars, they have a different mentality.

“There are not many teams to turn to and it is clear that that Paris Saint-Germain are the great rival to Real Madrid on this issue.

Canizares, who began his career with los Blancos, thinks that a Ronaldo exit would be catastrophic for the club but is confident he will stay.

“Real Madrid cannot think of building a team in Spain or Europe without Cristiano. Without him, they have no chance. But I think he will stay. Cristiano and Real Madrid is a marriage that will last many years.